British = English?

[SimplyTheWest]

Errr....I prefer being called English...Im too patriotic...its bad, i know.
But until someone has properly met me and found out im English, British is fine, because if you say that to a Scottish person or Welsh person, they will get offended...as everyone hates the English...

 

[Sparrow]

Oh, come on, that doesn't make any sense.
I'm a German, yet I'm not a member of all 16 states.
But I don't demand people to call me something more specific than that, why do you?
I'm gonna keep calling you British, no matter what part of Britain you're from.

Because you're label makes more sense.

My nationality ISN'T ACTUALLY BRITISH, BECAUSE THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS I AM WELSH, SCOTTISH AND ENGLISH. (Irish, possibly. I though a small part was part of "Britain", but everyone else is debating it.)

As a side note, I didn't demand anything. You can call me British. It's a label after all.

[small]It's just not a damn nationality![/small]

 

[MiracleOfSound]

yes well Americans are ignorant and single minded beings. just for all of you Americans out there im going to give you a geography lesson in a way you might understand. Ulster+Wales+Scotland+England=Britain(not including the several small islands they control)

Actually, Ulster has three counties that are in the Republic of Ireland.

Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan. It's Northern Ireland that's part of the UK, not Ulster.

 

[Meado]

This is how I was taught about this:

The islands in our region are collectively known as the "British Isles". Everyone from the countries on those islands (including England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland) can be referred to as "British", much in the same way that you can refer to someone from France or Germany as "European". You could also say that someone from the British Isles is "European" as well. It is nothing more than a sub-catagory.

While there are countries that feel offended at being called British, it is purely a geographical matter, not political. You would be correct to call them such, but given their wishes it might not be very polite. When in doubt, turn to manners.

EDIT: I figure I should add that the terms "Great Britain" and "United Kingdom" are political, and as such, no one from the Republic of Ireland should be considered part of either of them, while Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, but not part of Great Britain. It's politics, so no one expects it to be too simple.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

This is how I was taught about this:

The islands in our region are collectively known as the "British Isles". Everyone from the countries on those islands (including England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland) can be referred to as "British", much in the same way that you can refer to someone from France or Germany as "European". You could also say that someone from the British Isles is "European" as well.

While there are countries that feel offended at being called British, it is purely a geographical matter, not political. You would be correct to call them such, but given their wishes it might not be very polite. When in doubt, turn to manners.

Yes, that is an adviseable course of action over here in Ireland anyway... a lot of people here don't take too kindly to being called British!

 

[Shynobee]

Yes, people HERE (the escapist) probably get it, but the fact is, People are stupid. I say this alot and usually get flak from my friends for saying it, but I stand by it. Everyone in their life, at some point(s), or another, makes stupid ignorant mistakes. Some of us just make more than others.

So next time someone calls you "British," don't take offense to it, just realize, people are stupid, and we just have to learn to live with it.

 

[Takoto]

Wait... what? I'm confused... and tired...

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

Because you're label makes more sense.

My nationality ISN'T ACTUALLY BRITISH, BECAUSE THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS I AM WELSH, SCOTTISH AND ENGLISH. (Irish, possibly. I though a small part was part of "Britain", but everyone else is debating it.)

As a side note, I didn't demand anything. You can call me British. It's a label after all.

[small]It's just not a damn nationality![/small]

British is a nationality because the UK is a nation. A person can be of two nationalities simultaneously if one nation controls another.

 

[TipsyPeaches]

having lived in Scotland all my life, and being able to trace my family back many generations and still be Scottish, this is how I describe myself, and then, if need to, as British. The only thing I have that says I'm British is my passport, and that's because I'm not in charge and didn't get to put Scottish on it. I dunno, maybe it sounds elitist, or manybe even racist, but I see myself as Scottish before British, and that's not just because I don't want to be lumped in with the English.

 

[TipsyPeaches]

Errr....I prefer being called English...Im too patriotic...its bad, i know.
But until someone has properly met me and found out im English, British is fine, because if you say that to a Scottish person or Welsh person, they will get offended...as everyone hates the English...

well, if you didn't keep invading our country...

 

[TipsyPeaches]

Blah blah blah.
If you let the Queen of England rule over you, that means you're English. Gain independence and then we'll talk.

lulz

but the Queen is german :S

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

Im from Scandinavia, and you might refer to me as a Scandinavian, but when you refer to me as a Norwegian when im actually Swedish you do owe me some sort of an apology.

Okay, a bit corny to quote myself I know, but I just realized I should retract this statement or at least retcon it a bit. I only said it to make my point, and I don't actually mean it.

I don't consider my personal identity as being Swedish. I didn't choose to be born here and frankly I don't really agree with all the ideals this country has (in fact I don't agree with any country's ideals).

I consider myself to be more of a "world citizen" rather than Swedish, I was only lumped together with the rest of Sweden by dumb luck (or misfortune depending on how you look at it), and the Swedish government decided to label me as Swedish.

But I don't consider myself to owe any loyalty to any country, frankly I find patriotism to play a huge part of what's wrong with the world and it is an obstacle which mankind must one day try to overcome if it wishes to continue it's existence...

 

[TipsyPeaches]

the most annoying thing is when someone asks where I'm from, and I explain that Cupar is a town in Scotland, and they then say "oh, Scotland, whereabout in England is that?" those people deserve to have their eyes gouged out with the spout of a teapot.

 

[whiskey rock n' roller]

So, a high percentage of people, mainly Americans (I'm not pointing fingers, it's just the higher percentage of people!) seem to think that "British" means "English". That may very well be true, but it doesn't just stop there. Being "British" means your part of Britain, or the UK. However, it can't be used in the sense that it's your nationality. It's a lable, yes. However, if I were to have "British" as my nationality, that would mean I'm Welsh, Scottish, English and partly Irish.

I'm just throwing this out there but, everyone gets that right? I hate to be a little elitist, but this is the Escapist, and it's built up of a mutli-diverse, but mainly intelligent group of people so I'm assuming the answer is yes.

But, just to be sure, and probally a bit patronizing, you all get that right?

Northern Ireland is park of the UK, not Britain

True, however, I hate singling them out. They are nice chaps after all.

Thank you, however we are still classified as British, I guess it's just shorter than saying Part of the UK but not Bitish-ish.

 

[SniperMacFox]

Quite right, it's helpful for those who don't know about our britishness. Now do excuse me whilst I go have some tea and scones.

 

[Lord Thodin]

About that......So you mad that you got stereotyped? If so, then well....uh......sorry? Im American, and Ill admit that without a Map im useless with geography. However, I dont think I've ever claimed one was British when I meant English. I dont think that dilemmas ever risen. Your american friends need globes for christmas

 

[Cavouku]

I'm English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish.

If you discount my French, Spanish, and Romanian roots, I'm full-on British. Well, Canadian born, but still.

 

[Jurassic Rob]

However, if I were to have "British" as my nationality, that would mean I'm Welsh, Scottish, English and partly Irish.

No it wouldn't. It means you are from the United Kingdom of Great Britain. That would be like if you were American, you would be partly from each of the 50 states. Anyway I prefer being called European.